Rats in my Tomato Garden

[Materlvr]

Last year we got attacked by, I thought, were crows. We put up a half dozen detergents but we lost most of our tomatoes.

It now occurs to me that it was rats. We lost green beans, potatoes, jalapeño peppers and several other plants. Do you think it was rats? How can I get rid of them?

Thanks so much

[MissS]

It sure would be helpful to know what critter that you were up against. If you can't get your hands on a trail camera, then I would start with a tall bucket with a board as a ramp up to it. Something weak that will fall when weight is on it. Place a bait across the middle and fill the bucket with water. Then wait to see what falls into the bucket.

[rxkeith]

trap them either with snap traps or a small live trap that you can submerge in water.
use a trash can. i had a rat problem while living in detroit, due to next door neighbor.
he had beagles in an out door pen, and a broken down car in the back yard that the rats
used for a residence. keep setting the traps until you run out of rats. or get or borrow a
dog that likes to kill rats. the dog might be rough on the garden. i was very angry that year
on account of those rats. i would not use poison due to the chance of killing something that
is not a rat. i killed a lot of rats that year.
other potential culprits could be rabbits or woodchucks. they like beans, and most salad ingredients.

keith

[habitat-gardener]

When we still allowed chicken coops at the community garden, we had a huge rat problem. The rats lived under the chicken coops and ate the chicken feed. Since then, we have had to cut down sunflowers after they bloom each summer, or keep them deadheaded, otherwise the rats climb them to eat the seeds. That makes them visible, and fatter, and probably ramps up reproduction.

At a neighboring community garden that still allows chicken coops, we've seen rats going back and forth at dusk, eating the eggs, eating the feed, making themselves at home. That garden requires ratproof feeders in the coops, but obviously they don't get full compliance.

Having cats patrolling the garden has also helped control the rat and gopher population.

[Whwoz]

Welcome to junction from Down Under @Materlvr , whereabouts do you live, as different areas have different pests incase it is something other than rats you have and may not be aware of.

Getting rid of anywhere that they can shelter is a good start and I also tolerate the cat that wanders this area and the dairy across the road

[zeuspaul]

This is the trap I use with good success. At least it appears to be the exact same trap. It will catch birds and lizards as well as rats and mice. I check twice a day for critters that need to be let go. Rats and mice go for a swim. Birds and lizards get caught during the day, rats and mice are there in the morning.

For bait I use a mini shredded wheat covered with some peanut butter enhanced oatmeal, bread and peanut butter would work well, or cheese. I like the peanut butter flavored oatmeal to minimize ants.

Using the Amazon link on the home page and then searching for product B0DQJ6ZXMH this trap will show up.

rat-trap.png

[Kurt]

We get them Brown and Grey(Nordic plague carrier in history).
Rats eat piss and crap on the run.
Thank god for my mini pin Roxy when we do our perimeter morning search she will track the piss smell,the droppings.
Let’s me know the travel forage zone.
They will go to a shed,underneath any thing for cover.
We bait them with peanuts in shell.Spent shells will determine the nests.
The larger the droppings the bigger the critter.The urine smell gives nest location away.
Good Luck

[bower]

I left a bucket out that got rained in last summer, went to empty it and found two drowned rats.

One thing I learned about rats, they need water to drink. (mice don't) So unless you're near a pond, river or wet ditch, you can make your place inhospitable by never leaving buckets out or water source that they can drink. They will only nest where water is available within a certain distance.
Another thing about rats (unlike mice) they are very wary and don't like change. They like to run alongside of a wall or structure that they are familiar with. You put your traps beside the place they run along, but they have to get used to it for awhile before there's a chance to catch them.

[zeuspaul]

We bait them with peanuts in shell.

Thanks for the suggestion. Raw or roasted? I have some peanut oil and a drop or two on the shell may help?

[Kurt]

Raw peanuts in shell.
They will take them to nest then remove shell at nest.They like the nut inside.
They come thru and eat tops of my dill plants,tops cotton seedlings.
Seems when regular food is unavailable they will eat anything.